LAST CHAPTER EVERYONE! I love you all for supporting me so much! There'll be a thank you page, later on, so check out your names, okay? And don't totally ignore the alerts by me for the next couple of days just yet…there may be a surprise. –Hint hint-

Chapter 7: Moonlight Lake: The Finale

'He taught me how to be different. He taught me how to not care what people thought and then he taught me how to mend a broken heart.'

–Unknown.

Harry walked to his bed hesitantly. Looking around, careful of any potential gossipers, he quickly swept open the bed sheets, climbing into them rapidly. Underneath it was the box his admirer had given him –he'd quickly found out that whatever was put into it would fit automatically –even an elephant, if he so wanted. He'd thought it fitting that his admirer's letters (he still completely refused to call them 'love letters') should be placed there.

Silently, he took them out, re-reading each and every one of them.

He'd gotten a new one this morning: using his new necklace to locate the letter in the overflowing pile of –what he personally called souvenirs of 'fan-mania'.

Now, in the privacy of his dorm (everyone had gone to Hogsmeade the school having been given a holiday in honour of the special day, while he, claiming stomach trouble –with everyone teasing him and him blushing –as an excuse for not going), he unrolled the parchment.

Dear Harry,

Today is the day I reveal myself. I am shivering as I write –but that's okay. I put an anti-detection charm on this anyway.

No wonder I couldn't tell by the handwriting, Harry thought wryly.

I want you to go around the school for this gift. You will have to go to every single place that you have found your previous gifts. In order, from the first to the last.

The last one will give you the clue about where I am.

I'm waiting for you…

Love, your secret admirer.

Harry gaped. All of them!

Getting up even faster than when he was late for Potions, Harry ran out the door.

After all, he had six places to go before the end of the day.

Air rushed past him, as his frantic footsteps echoed on the stony path. Suddenly, he stopped.

He'd reached his destination.

Wind blew gently across his face, pushing stubborn strands of black, making them sway in his vision.

In his hands, a sheaf of papers shifted back and forth. Although he'd barely read them, he could remember every word as if they were embedded, burned into his memory.

Eternal.

Unconditional.

Unique.

Exclusive.

Pure.

And the last word: forever.

At the bottom of the last letter, it had only one word: water.

A figure sat at the side of the lake, one leg extended outwards, one leg bent, as a tousled head rested on an arm.

His heart stopped.

Silver hair was resting on that arm.

He crept closer –then stopped again. A single origami swan sat next to the mystery person, it's frail, fragile shape moving to-and-fro.

In all that he was, it was only until the blonde had turned around, that he saw that it was Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy.

He stood, struck, for a minute, staring slightly into grey eyes. Eyes that he'd dreamed about, eyes that he knew.

Draco turned back around.

Silently, he slunk closer, until he was behind the pale blonde boy. He stood, watching the water, a strange calm coming over him as he watched the ripples flow.

"Did you read the notes?"

Harry started, the momentary peace of quiet having broken for him. He nodded, his nod slightly halting in its action.

Draco smiled, a genuine smile that Harry knew that so far, only he'd been privileged to see. Oddly, he was comforted, even pleased by this fact.

Still smiling, the pale blonde patted the space next to him. Mutely, as if he'd lost the ability to speak, Harry sat down. They stared into the water for a few minutes.

"Thank you." It was softly uttered, and Draco looked up in surprise. Harry looked surprised himself, almost not believing that the faint, delicate whisper had been his.

Draco smiled again, this time, his eyes shining with a radiance that Harry could not identify. Puzzled that his cheeks felt slightly warmer than before, Harry looked away.

"The writing was beautiful," he whispered, falteringly.

"Everything was true." Harry looked up, a little bit like a deer caught in the lights. Draco looked steadily at him.

"Everything was true," he repeated, firmer this time. He looked across the lake, steadfastly.

Harry waited.

After a pause, Draco spoke again. "It has been for a long time," his voice taking on a slight waver.

Harry ignored it. Instead, he looked at the grey eyes, speaking so eloquently, at the pale strands of hair that hung down to the other boy's shoulders.

And suddenly, he found it hard to remember Draco Malfoy as a ferret. He found it hard to compare almost anything to this...wonderful creature.

"How long?" Draco looked up, a startled look on his face.

Recuperating, he hastily answered "Two years, now."

Harry ducked his head, his eyelashes brushing down on his cheeks. "That long?" he asked shyly.

Draco nodded. "I didn't believe it at first –but then, I started accepting it. I couldn't seem to do anything else." He laughed nervously.

They sat some more.

Harry thought of his feelings. Inside, his heart was beating like a train –rushing ahead; then stopping, then speeding forwards again.

He wasn't mad. He wasn't unhappy either. And suddenly, Harry realized that there wasn't anything negative that he was feeling at all. In fact, he realized, he felt quite happy.

He liked the idea of being with someone.

He liked the idea of being with Draco.

And then, he realized that he wanted to be with Draco.

Making up his mind, Harry let his head fall onto Draco s shoulder. Draco tensed; and Harry waited for the rebuke that he knew would be sure to come.

Instead, Draco twisted around, so that his arms encircled Harry's waist; so that Harry's head would rest on Draco s chest; tucked underneath Draco s neck; his body sitting, surrounded completely, by Draco.

They sat, a breeze blowing their hair, entwining the tresses.

"Are you su–"

"Yes…"

He sighed, a sigh that was made in bliss.

He did not notice Draco pushing into his pocket, until he was attracted by light being reflected sharply in the right side of his vision.

Draco smiled.

He held out two rings: plain white gold, and shimmering in the moonlight.

Harry gasped.

Draco smiled, his eyes soft with a glow of love. "Will you do me the honour…?" he whispered, unwilling to break the atmosphere surrounding them.

"It's the Malfoy ring…a promise ring…not anything else...I know that you are unwilling to commit so much without knowing anything yet."

Harry hesitated.

"Won't your father…"

"He's fine with it. He was spying for our side anyway. We're Slytherins –of course we'd be on the winning side! And it's inevitable that you'll win," Draco said matter-of-factly.

Harry looked at him, lovingly. Draco, puzzled, looked right back at him. "What's the matter?"

Harry blushed, a reddish tint colouring his face. He slipped on the promise ring, midnight hair hiding his face. "It's just that nobody's ever believed in me so much…" he said softly.

Eyes softening, the white blonde cupped the brunette's face, swallowing slightly at the look of love in those eyes. "Harry, I love you. Of course I believe in you."

Harry's blush deepened, his face automatically trying to turn away. Draco held his face firmly in place.

"Harry," he called gently. His love looked at him shyly. "You will win. I believe in you. You will kick that bastard's ass, and win absolutely spectacularly."

Harry's eyes glowed –then the glow faded. "But…"

Draco continued regardlessly. "And you will win because you will have me behind you. Every step of the way."

Harry made as if to interrupt. A single finger stopped his mouth, as Draco continued speaking. "And do not tell me that I will get hurt. I don't care if I get hurt, because if you get hurt, my heart will get hurt, and hearts, unlike this body of mine, cannot heal. So don't you dare tell me that I will get hurt, Harry James Potter, because it's going to be absolutely no use!"

And then, as if he was scared that Harry would continue protesting, "At all!"

Harry's eyes filled with tears –clear as the moonlit lake that rested beside them.

Slowly, two slender thumbs brushed them away, a pair of grey eyes watching him; alight with the shine of a pure unadulterated love.

Then two lips descended on his cheeks. Time froze, as they gently removed all remnants of the salty crystals that had threatened to spill from his eyes.

As if involuntarily, his arms reached out to clasp behind a pastel neck. Rose lips slid down, caressing silky skin, until they reached their destination, and caressed dusky red.

It was tender. A kiss of promise. A kiss of past, present and future. A future of love.

They broke apart, gasping slightly for air, and for the electricity that still ran through their veins. Carefully, their fingers entangled themselves together. Fire rushing through their minds, through their souls.

And then they kissed again.

In the tower, above the lake in which two shadows still embraced, a single painting glowed.

The last of the shadows disappeared, and in the midst of the darkness, a tiny light shone; then vanished.

In the painting a face had appeared, completing the picture –blonde strands caressed tousled black hair, as eyelids rested on those who were sleeping peacefully –together at last. The last swan appeared.

A flash of silver on painted hands; then all was finally still.

Below, a last tender whisper was exchanged before silence also reigned.

"Happy Valentine's Day, my love."

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